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J. WI REINHART. Looked Switch.

Ne. 224,953. Patented Feb. 24, 1880.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.-

JOSEPH W. REINHART, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNORTO JAMES MCHENRY BEINHAR'I, OF SAME PLACE.

LOCKED SWITCH.

SPECIFICATION `forming part of Letters Patent No. 224,953, dated February 24, 1880.

Application led July 31, 1879.

To all whom it may concern:

-Be it known that l, JOSEPH W. REINHART, of Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Locked Switches; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the ac.- companying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part` of this specification, in which- Figure l represents a side elevation of a switch-lever and its stand or frame having my improvements applied thereto; and Fig. 2, a central vertical cross-section of the same, but showing the lever and its automatic lock in elevation. Fig. 3 represents a plan view of Fig. 1.

My invention relates to that class of. switchlever and stand devices termed a two or three throw switch-lever and stand.

I am aware that switch-levers of this class have heretofore been used in connection with automatic locks; but these have been so constructed as to throw all the thrust and strain from the switch-rods, on the passage of a train of cars, upon the bolt of the lock. This speedily puts it out of order'and renders it inoperative.

The main obl]l ect of my invention is to remedy this trouble.

The invention consists in a new and improved construction of the switch-lever and stand, so that when combined with an automatic lock the strain of the switch-rod will be thrown upon the switch-lever and stand, and

not upon the lock-bolt of the lock.

To enable others skilled in the art to make, construct, and use my invention, l will now proceed to describe its parts indetail, omitting a particular description of such parts of a switch'and of the automatic lock as are nonessential to a full understandin g of the present improvement.

In the drawings, A represents a stout bed frame or plate, upon whichis securely erected the switch-stand B. Stand B consists of a' stout metal frame,a, curved on its upper edge,

b, so as to coincide with a circular line drawn from a radius having its center at the center of the pivotal pin of the switch-lever C, and extending to the under edge of the lock D on said lever G.

To the side of frame ce is secured a stout plate of metal, c, whose upper edge, 61 is also curved to coincide with the upper edge, b, of

stand a. The frame and plate c are so secured to each other by any suitable and known means as to leave a space of sufficient width between their adjoining faces to permit the lever C to pass freely between them. (See Fig. 3..)

On the inner face of stand a are cuit three radial slots or grooves,m,of a width sufficient to receive the upper end o f the lower half of the bent switch-lever C. 0n the inner face of plate c are also cut three notches, n, said notches being so arranged and cut with respect to the three slots or grooves m as to respectively correspond therewith, so that when the lever G is engaged with either of the slots m in the stand a, then the corresponding notch n in plate c will be directly opposite the lockbolt o of lock D, ready to receive the latter as soon as the lever is forced back into either of the grooves m. The bottom side of notches n prevents any one from forcing back the lockbolt without the aid of the key.

C represents the switch-lever, pivoted at f, and having an opening, g, near its lower end for receiving the pivotal bolt of the switchrod. Lever C is bent squarely outward toward plate c at a point slightly above or beyond the curved edge d of 4plate c, as shown in Fig. 2, so that when not locked to the stand B the bend It of said lever may project over plate c, for a purpose hereinafter to `be described.

To the lever G, at its bend h, is firmly se- -cured an automatic lock, D, having' a spring lock-bolt, o. This lock I prefer to be so constructed that when its lock-bolt is not projected so as to lock the lever to stand A the key cannot be withdrawn therefrom until the switch-lever has been locked to the stand. Still such is not an essential feature.

The operation is as follows: Suppose lever C to be locked to the stand, as shown inthe drawings, and it is desired to move the switch,

say, from the main track to a siding, then the key is inserted into the lool: and operated so as to Withdraw spring lock-bolt o from notch a oi' the plate c, and there held until the lever C is Withdrawn from the groove m ot' frame a. This brings the edge of the lever in line With the space p between the frame a and plate c, When it can be moved in either direction Within space j), according to the movement of the switch required, untilv it reaches the proper ,corresponding groove m in frame a, when it is then sprung back into groove m, and when securely home there locked by bolt o, (and which, during the movement of the lever, has been held back in its unlocked position by the upper edge, f1, of plate 0,) which, being` released by bein brought opposite the notch u in plate c, is suddenly projected into said notch by the reaction of its spring. The same operation is repeated each time the switch is changed.

Notches n are made slightly wider than the Width ofthe lock-bolt o, as shown in Fig. 2, as the latter is not intended to have any bearing against the edges of the notches, but only against the back of the latter, with the sole view of' holding the lever C firmly Within the grooves m of frame By this arrangement it Will be apparent that all strain and thrust from the switch-rod will be borne by lever C, and not by the lock-bolt of the lock.

As a rule, sufficient spring will be found in the lever C to permit of its being sprung back into the grooves m but, ifV desired, a little side play may be allowed to it on its pivotal pin.

Having described my invention, What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The combination of a bent switch-lever, (j, anda holding or fastening device with a stand, B, having grooves fm, and notches n, arranged substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of a bent switch-lever,

C, and stand B, having grooves m and notches a, with an automatic lock, arranged substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

ln testimony that I claimy the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 3d day of July, 1879.

JOSEPH W. REINHART. Witnesses F. B. BROOK, H. A. HALL. 

